Group Marriage Ceremony on 8th of November, 2008
The Annual dowry free, inter community wedding ceremony was organized by the Guild of Service for couples undergoing economic hardships on a bright Saturday, November the 8th,2008 at 3 p.m afternoon. 21 couples entered the sacred bonds of marriage.
The Marriage function was organized on the lawns of Guild of Service premises, at Qutab Institutional Area amidst solemn settings . There was tremendous activity from early morning for the occasion. Decorations and other arrangements gave a perfect blending of an Indian Marriage function.
The guests were received by Ms. Meera Khanna. Welcoming the guests, Dr. Giri spoke about Guild of Service annual tradition to bind couples from weaker sections of society into marriage. These expense free marriages eliminate the practice of dowry, promote inter caste and inter community marriages and widow remarriage. She reiterated that through such endeavors the Guild of Service seeks to function as a catalyst for change in society.
The marriage ceremony of couples was solemnized according to Hindu rites, expect for the marriage of a single Muslim couple, Mr. Idrish & Ms. Rahisha who were bound by Nikaah by a Muslim priest. Two inter religious marriages between Mr Ravinder Kumar, a Hindu boy and Ms. Praveen,a Muslim Girl and a Christian boy, Mr. Johnson Mathew with Ms Poonam, a Hindu girl were also the feature of the ceremony. Among the couples were two widowed couples who remarried, namely, Mr. Munshi Ram with Ms. Saroj and Mr. Anil Kumar with Ms. Draupadi. Against all odds and uncooperative parents, after counseling by GOS, marriage of Mr. Lalit Kumar and Ms. Sonu Kumari was soleminised.
The couples were given Family Planning information prior to the marriage by Ms. Sanghya Trivedi from the Family Planning Association of India. The Family Planning Assocaition of India was kind enough to give literature and pamplets and broad information on the planning of family to the about to be couples.
The Guild of Service through the kind cooperation of the, Smt. Sreerupa Mitra Chaudhury, Purvanchal Womens Association, War Widows Association, Ms. Saroj Bhushan, Inner Wheel Club of Delhi(Pancsheel Park), Mr & Mrs. Soli Sorabjee, Ms. Prabha Kapoor, Ms. Shyama Aggarwal from the Laxman Foundation, Innerwheel Club,Sainik Farm. Smt Aruna Dalmia, Smt. Shalini Kapoor , Mr. Rajeev Nayyar, Ms. Darshan Katyal, Ms. Tripat Kaur, Ms. Sushma Seth, Ms. Kumud Kohli, Ms. Sudha Rani Mathur, Ms. Veena Nayyar, Mrs. Soi, Ms. Priyamvada, Ms. Saroja Viadyanathan, Ms. Vinita Nagar, Ms. Uma Singhania were a part of the ceremony.
The couples were blessed by eminent personalities, Smt. Prema Cariappa, Chairperson, Central Social Welfare Board, Smt. Anjoli Ela Menon(Artist), Smt. Sushma Seth, Smt. Khursheed Bano, Ms. Bharati Nayyar and others.
Marriage certificates and basic needs items were distributed to all the couples by Guild of Service. The Guild of Service also provided a gift home start up kit to each couple. comprising of bed and bath linen, gas stove, sewing machines, blankets, clothes, utensils, watches etc. to the couples.
The ceremony was performed in all sacredness. After the ceremony, refreshments were served. Dr. Giri in her Thanksgiving speech to the gathering thanked one and all for the precious time they took out from their daily busy schedules. She had a word of thanks especially for those who had contributed both in cash and kind to ensure the success of the ceremony and Guild of Service looked forward to their constant support.